Seven killed in road accident near Mombasa city

Seven passengers perished in a grisly road accident involving a matatu and a truck at Bonje near Mazeras trading centre on the Mombasa-Nairobi earlier Saturday.

The two vehicles which were travelling in opposite directions collided Saturday leaving death and injury in their wake. Bonje is about 20 kilometres North West from Mombasa city and is prone to road crashes.

Acting OCPD for Kaloleni sub county Patrick Ngeiywa said on Saturday that all those who perished were passenger of the matatu which was travelling to Voi from Mombasa.

Among the dead were four female and three male who included the driver of the ill-fated matatu. They were not identified. The driver of the truck who, apparently, was travelling alone fled the scene and had not been found by press time.

''At around 9.00 am, we received information of a fatal motor accident at Bonje near Mariakiani. Five people died on the spot while two died as they received treatment at the Mariakani Sub County Hospital,'' the police boss said.

The police boss described the spot where the incident occurred as a black spot and urged motorists to observe caution when approaching the section.

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He said that the driver of the truck registration number KBP 476 A went missing soon after the accident.

He said that they have launched investigations into the accident and that the wreckages of the two vehicles were towed to Mariakani Police Station.

''Guard rails that used to prevent vehicle impact were vandalized and our appeal is to concerned authorities to fix them,'' Ngeiywa said.

According to Mr Juma Karisa Kadenge, a conductor in the ill-fated matatu, they were headed for Voi with 10 passengers before the accident.

Kadenge who suffered an injured jaw and complained of chest pains said that his driver (name withheld) tried in vain to avoid colliding with the truck which had abruptly come into their way.

''There was little left as the heavy truck crashed hard against us,'' he said as medics attended to him at the Mariakani Hospital.

Kadenge's sister, Asha Musa who had arrived at the hospital hoping for the worst was relieved when media personnel assisted her into meeting his injured brother.

''I am sad that lives were lost but delighted that God spared my brother,'' she told Sunday Standard.

At the Mariakani Sub County Hospital, Medical officer in charge, Dr Kiptoo Sammin said that they had received five of the accident victims alive while two died as they were being attended to.

''We have referred the four to Coast Provincial General Hospital while another one was taken to Pandya Memorial Hospital for specialized care,'' Dr Sammin said.

Several people jammed the hospital's emergency ward to catch a glimpse of the accident victims.